Escape noisy planes with the best noise-cancelling headphones

Reviewed.com Staff
Published 6:03 p.m. ET Feb. 7, 2017

These are the best noise-cancelling headphones you can buy.(Photo: Pexels)

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Nothing ruins a commute, flight, or quiet evening at home quite like the sounds of trains, jet engines, and noisy roommates. Fortunately for us, there are headphones that tamp down on noise pollution with software that puts your ears in total aural isolation.

Noise cancelling headphones might come at a premium cost, but the benefits are delightful: just you and your music (or podcasts) without the noisiness of the hectic world around you.

We regularly review noise cancelling headphones and stack 'em up against one another to see how they compare. Here's a regularly-updates list of the best noise cancelling headphones right now.​

Bose's QuietComfort over-ears are ubiquitous on planes and trains, but for good reason—noise cancellation and unmatched comfort make them perfect for business class. The newest entry—the QC35s—deliver the same level of comfort and performance we've come to expect from the QC line, but this time, they're equipped with wireless functionality. They don't come cheap, but the QC35s graduate at the top of their class.​ Read Our Review

The AKG N90Qs are the definition of a luxury niche product. With an absurd price and an even more absurd list of features and accessories, it's safe to say there isn't another headphone experience quite like this one. Whether you're a professional or just an audio enthusiast, there's something here to love—if you can afford it.​ Read Our Review

The Monoprice ANC with Bass Boost headphones feature active noise-cancellation and a sub-$100 price point, way below what competing models cost. They don't cut down on ambient noise quite as well as more expensive alternatives (like those from Bose) and just run off AAA batteries, but they do just enough to dim the sounds of your commute—as long as you don't mind the smallish earpads and the tight headband. Read Our Review

Meet the Sennheiser CXC 700s (MSRP $229), a set of active noise-canceling in-ears that are probably best used on an airplane flight. While these headphones are not well-suited to use on a jog, the active noise cancellation unit employed by the Sennheiser CXC 700 offers better attenuation than most on-ear or over-ear headphones. Still, there are some durability issues that should give most people that are not frequent travelers some pause.​ Read Our Review

A Canadian company specializing in loudspeakers, PSB is a fresh face in the headphone game. Going all in with the M4U 2​ over-ears (MSRP $399), the company offers plenty in terms of both comfort and audio quality—but the asking price is tall indeed.​ Read Our Review